The Unreconstructed Man

The Sun is Britain's best selling daily newspaper and has a daily circulation of just under two million but everyone denies reading it. Top Gear has an audience of about six million and in 2013 Guinness World Records proclaimed that the show was the most widely watched factual TV programme... in the world, but at the moment many people would probably claim not to watch it. And the reason is beleaguered presenter Jeremy Clarkson whose controversial remarks and recent 'fracas' with a producer have seen the programme taken off the air. Having upset lorry drivers, the French and the Mexicans with uncomplimentary remarks, he has also been labelled racist after the emergence of the "Eeny, Meeny" video and the comment in the Burma Special programme about 'slopes' (which passed me by completely at the time). For the presenter of a motoring programme it is perhaps ironic that he seems so often to fail to put his brain in gear before opening his mouth, yet I wonder if these remarks are actually calculated to shock in something of the manner of "shock jock" Howard Stern. Certainly it seems that Clarkson likes to push the boundaries and see how far he can go.

Jeremy Clarkson by Ed Perchick - flickr

I don't buy the retrospective horror that issues from the BBC about Clarkson's remarks, there must after all be some editorial control before the shows are broadcast and the powers that be at Broadcasting House must, I assume review the content and can't all be ignorant of the possible offence he may cause. We have to believe therefore that his controversial outpourings have some degree of approval. After all, after the first, second or at least third hullabaloo one would expect some senior executive at the Beeb to decide that a firmer grip is needed on approving scripts and that having put that in place, the remarks that have caused such furore would have been inspected and passed for broadcast. To lay all of the blame at Clarkson's door seems somewhat disingenuous to me. When it comes to lamping a producer however, one can see the Beeb's dilemma. In most organisations assaulting a colleague is normally grounds for instant dismissal, but Top Gear is so successful and generates so much income that, as in many cases, one can see BBC executives wondering if treating Clarkson like any other employee might be an example of killing the goose that laid the golden egg. There are plenty of examples of a star performer being allowed to get away with behaviour that would not be tolerated from a lesser light and the outcome of the Beeb's enquiry into the matter may turn out to be another.

Now I have to admit to more than a passing interest in the outcome of the broadcaster's investigation because having applied unsuccessfully for tickets to see Top Gear being recorded in the past, last week I received an email that began "You have now successfully received tickets to attend the recording of Top Gear 2015 taking place on Wednesday 18th March 2015." My initial delight turned to  indecision as I realised that the recording clashed with a football match, Romford v Wroxham, scheduled for the same day and I quickly realised that I could not go to both. Within a matter of hours, however my uncertainty became academic when Clarkson was suspended and the recording was cancelled. If Clarkson is reinstated, or if the recording is rescheduled with a replacement host, I hope to be able to go whenever it takes place (if indeed it does). Interestingly and hypocritically to my mind, the BBC cancelled the latest, unaired shows on the basis of Clarkson's suspension but continue to show repeats of older shows.

As I said earlier, Top Gear is one of those programmes that some people will watch but probably deny. It is irredeemably silly at times, a bit like Last Of The Summer Wine with cars. A famous comedy double act were once described as consisting of an idiot and another idiot who thinks he is clever and that is pretty much the impression that Messrs Clarkson, May and Hammond have cultivated; each thinks that they are cleverer than the other two, but all three exhibit moments of rank stupidity, and you actually have to be pretty smart to pull that off week after week, which they do.

Left to right, James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond

Having started life as a staid car programme, Top Gear has transmogrified itself into a light entertainment show with some relatively serious car reviews. Knowing the way that shows like this are made it is obvious that some of the stunts, particularly the races between car, boat, bike and public transport are carefully stage managed and are far from as spontaneous as they may appear. Then there are the moments of sheer lunacy like customising police cars or ambulances or converting a combine harvester into a snow plough that are played purely for laughs. It is formulaic, but it generally gives the public what they want, which is three middle aged men acting the fool. As I say, like Last Of The Summer Wine with cars. But never forget that Summer Wine ran its course because there are only so many times you can pull the same stunts, tell the same jokes, and keep the public amused; Top Gear may have gone the same way regardless of Jeremy Clarkson and his contentious remarks.

Left to right: Clegg, Foggy and Compo

It has been suggested that certain events in Jeremy Clarkson's private life have in part been responsible for his increased volatility and involvement in greater controversy and it could equally be that as with others before him in many walks of life he has thought himself bombproof, allowing him to feel that he can push the boundaries further than other people without fear of reprisal. After all he has survived previous controversies, perhaps he will survive this one too, only time will tell. If the Beeb let him return maybe he will be contrite, maybe he will tone things down; we shall see.

If truth be told there have been occasions when I've watched Top Gear and winced at one of Clarkson's insensitive remarks, and admit to a certain amount of uneasiness over the apparently casual way in which he makes them. In some ways he reminds me of the small child that learns a rude word and delights in the discomfort he causes in others each time he trots it out. Sometimes I really don't think that he believes that his remarks cause the offense they do, that they are just a bit of fun and is surprised at the commotion that follows them. Jeremy Clarkson is in many ways the ultimate unreconstructed man, an idea he obviously subscribes to in part, having described himself in his newspaper column as "a dinosaur."

Everyone deserves a second chance, but Jeremy Clarkson has had more than one; this latest episode may be a bridge too far. If he goes Top Gear may demise too rather like the band that cannot really replace the lead singer who leaves to pursue a sole career, but never forget that Russell Brand and Jonathon Ross appear to have been rehabilitated and forgiven for their prank call to Andrew Sachs.  It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that Clarkson will return.